Demonstrators in September 2014 hold signs outside State Superior Court in Stamford demanding justice for Mahomed Kamal, the Stamford taxi driver killed in late August 2014. Shota Mekoshvili, the alleged murderer in the case, is taking his murder case to trial in March. less

Demonstrators in September 2014 hold signs outside State Superior Court in Stamford demanding justice for Mahomed Kamal, the Stamford taxi driver killed in late August 2014. Shota Mekoshvili, the alleged ... more

Shota Mekoshvili, left with his attorney Lindy Urso in State Superior Court in Stamford at his arraignment on murder charges in August 2014. Mekoshvili is accused of murdering cabbie Mahomed Kamal, whose body was found stabbed to death next to his hack on Doolittle Road. less

Shota Mekoshvili, left with his attorney Lindy Urso in State Superior Court in Stamford at his arraignment on murder charges in August 2014. Mekoshvili is accused of murdering cabbie Mahomed Kamal, whose body ... more

STAMFORD — The trial will begin in March for the man accused of stabbing a cabbie more than 20 times in what police described as a “brutal, life-and-death” struggle during an apparent robbery in 2014.

Shota Mekoshvili has been jailed since his arrest for the August 2014 murder of Mahomed Kamal, who police said was stabbed nearly two dozen times with a three-inch knife.

Judge Gary White this week scheduled jury selection to begin on March 1 with testimony starting later that month.

Mekoshvili’s attorney, Kevin Smith, attended Tuesday’s hearing but said he would not present alibi or extreme emotional disturbance defenses. Smith works with well-known New Haven defense attorney, Norm Pattis, who may handle the case at trial.

Smith declined to comment what strategy the defense plans for the trial. The defense rejected a plea offer and Mekoshvili faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted at trial.

Senior Assistant State’s Attorney James Bernardi, who is prosecuting the case, also declined comment.

Police believe robbery was the motive for the murder since Kamal had as much as $500 on him the morning he was killed.

Kamal, who was married and had a 3-year-old son, is believed to have driven Mekoshvili to Doolittle Road about 3:30 a.m. Aug. 27, 2014. The two apparently knew each other and Kamal had previously driven Mekoshvili, a Georgian national.

A tipster alerted authorities that Mekoshvili said he stabbed someone to death because he kept screaming while he was robbing him, police said. The tipster also saw bloody money inside Mekoshvili’s apartment, police said.

About 13 hours after Kamal’s body was found, Mekoshvili was taken into custody. Police said he had a gash on his nose and cuts on his forehead and right temple, believed to have been caused by a metal flashlight that Kamal wielded to protect himself.

Mekoshvili has been in jail unable to post a $1 million court appearance bond since his arrest.